What does 400 silver mean?

"400 silver" typically refers to the purity of silver, indicating that the metal is 400 parts per thousand pure silver, or 40% silver content. This standard is often used for silver-plated items or lower-quality silver alloys, as higher purity silver, such as sterling silver, contains 92.5% silver. Items marked with "400" may not have the same value or quality as higher-purity silver items.